Effervescent compositions containing N-acetylcysteine

ABSTRACT

Effervescent pharmaceutical compositions containing a high amount of N-acetylcysteine and a method of treating acetaminophen poisoning with effervescent pharmaceutical compositions containing a high amount of N-acetylcysteine are described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/800,228 filed Jul. 15, 2015 which in turn is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/264,444 filed Apr. 29, 2014, abandoned, which in turn is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/466,721 filed May 8, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,747,894 issued Jun. 10, 2014. The contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to effervescent pharmaceutical compositions containing N-acetylcysteine, more particularly to effervescent compositions containing a high amount of N-acetylcysteine useful for the oral treatment of acetaminophen poisoning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a well-known drug approved worldwide for several indications mainly as mucolytic agent but it is also one of the few available treatments for acetaminophen poisoning.

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic drug. Accidental or suicidal acetaminophen overdose can cause severe liver damage which result in several deaths each year in the U.S.A.

NAC is effective by intravenous or oral route for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning if administered within 8-10 hours of acetaminophen overdose. The dose of NAC to be administered is very high according to the Prescott therapy protocol, as reported in the following table 1:

TABLE 1 NAC doses according to the Prescott therapy protocol NAC NAC Body weight loading dose maintenance dose (kg) (g) (g) 100-109 15 7.5 90-99 14 7 80-89 13 6.5 70-79 11 5.5 60-69 10 5 50-59 8 4 40-49 7 3.5 30-39 6 3 20-29 4 2

The only available NAC dosage form for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning is Acetadote®, 30 ml vials containing 200 mg/ml NAC for intravenous administration.

The oral treatment of acetaminophen poisoning with NAC is equally or even more effective than intravenous treatment when administered within 8-10 hours of acetaminophen overdose (Michele Zell Kanter, American Journal of Health—System Pharmacy, Oct. 1, 2006 vol. 63 no. 19, 1821-1827), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference and would be more practical and safer. However, the very high dosage limits the possibility to use commercially available NAC formulations for oral administration which usually have a maximum NAC content of 600 mg.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have an oral formulation containing a high amount of NAC to be used for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We have now found an effervescent composition containing a high amount of NAC which is very easy to administer as an aqueous solution and is particularly useful for the oral treatment of acetaminophen poisoning.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an effervescent composition containing at least 50% w/w of NAC, at least 20% w/w of a carbonate or bicarbonate salt and a mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients comprising a sweetener, a flavor, and a diluent.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of treating acetaminophen poisoning. The method includes administering an effective amount of an effervescent composition containing at least 50% w/w of NAC, at least 20% w/w of a carbonate or bicarbonate salt and a mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients comprising a sweetener, a flavor, and a diluent to a patient in need of such treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an effervescent composition containing a high amount of NAC which is particularly useful for the oral treatment of acetaminophen poisoning.

The effervescent composition and object of the present invention contains at least 50% w/w of NAC, at least 20% w/w of a carbonate or bicarbonate salt and a mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients comprising a sweetener, a flavor, and a diluent.

As used herein, a value % w/w means the weight per cent of a component of the composition with respect to the total weight of said composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the amount of NAC in the effervescent composition ranges from 50% to 80% w/w, more preferably, it is from 50% to 60% w/w.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the amount of NAC is about 54-55% w/w.

Suitable carbonate or bicarbonate salts are pharmaceutically acceptable carbonate or bicarbonate salts commonly used as CO₂ source in effervescent compositions.

Specific examples include sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate (NaHCO₃+Na₂CO₃+2H₂O), sodium glycine carbonate and the like.

Sodium bicarbonate is particularly preferred.

The amount of carbonate or bicarbonate salt in the effervescent compositions according to the present invention is at least 20% w/w, preferably from 20% to 45% w/w, and more preferably from 30% to 35% w/w.

The Applicant has found that the formulation of the present invention develops effervescence in water without the need of an additional organic or inorganic acid, making it particularly advantageous in comparison with known effervescent NAC compositions which require the presence of an effervescent couple.

In addition to the active ingredient and the carbonate or bicarbonate salt, the effervescent composition of the present invention usually contains a mixture of excipients comprising a sweetener, a flavor, and a diluent.

The total amount of the additional excipients is usually from 3.5% to 15% w/w.

Suitable sweeteners include sugars, such as mono- or di-saccharides, for example glucose, saccharose, maltose, galactose, and artificial sweeteners, such as sodium saccharin, acesulfame potassium, cyclamates, sucralose. Artificial sweeteners are preferred, and among them sucralose is particularly preferred.

The amount of sweetener ranges from 0.2% to 10% w/w, and preferably is from 0.5% to 1% w/w.

The amount of flavor ranges from 1% to 3% w/w, and preferably is about 2% w/w.

Any pharmaceutically acceptable flavors can be used such as fruit flavor, peppermint flavor, etc. Fruit flavors are preferred, and lemon and orange flavors are particularly preferred.

Suitable diluents include polyols, such as for example mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, as well as cellulose, starch and maltodextrin.

Maltodextrin is particularly preferred.

The amount of diluent usually ranges from 2% to 20% w/w.

The effervescent composition according to the present invention can optionally contain further pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as chelating agents, for example EDTA, lubricants, for example sodium benzoate and magnesium stearate, colorants, etc.

When a lubricant is present in the formulation according to the present invention, the amount of lubricant usually ranges from 0.1% to 5% w/w.

Sodium benzoate is preferably used.

The effervescent NAC compositions of the invention are prepared by conventional granulation techniques, preferably by wet granulation for example in a fluid bed granulator.

The effervescent granulate can be used as such as finished dosage form, for example filled in sachets or can be compressed into tablets.

In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical NAC composition according to the invention is in the form of effervescent tablets.

The dose of NAC contained in the finished dosage unit can range from 0.5 g to 2.5 g without changing the physical properties of the solid composition.

In particular, the effervescent formulations according to the present invention are readily soluble in a small amount of water, have a good taste and are of limited dimensions to be easily stored and transported.

The unit dose of NAC can be for example 0.5 g, 1.0 g, 1.5 g, 2.0 g and 2.5 g. Unit doses of 0.5 g and 2.5 g are particularly preferred because they can be easy combined to reach any therapeutic dose required by the Prescott therapy protocol as reported in the following table 2.

TABLE 2 Number of Number of Volume of tablets of the tablets of the reconstituted Body invention invention solution to be weight NAC (2.5 g (0.5 g administered to (Kg) (g) NAC/tablet) NAC/tablet) patients Loading dose 100-109 15 6 0 About 200 mL 90-99 14 5 3 (a glass of water) 80-89 13 5 1 70-79 11 4 2 60-69 10 4 0 50-59 8 3 1 40-49 7 2 4 30-39 6 2 2 20-29 4 1 3 Maintenance dose 100-109 7.5 3 0 About 200 mL 90-99 7 2 4 (a glass of water) 80-89 6.5 2 3 70-79 5.5 2 1 60-69 5 2 0 50-59 4 1 3 40-49 3.5 1 2 30-39 3 1 1 20-29 2 0 4

The above table clearly shows some of the most significant advantages of the effervescent composition of the present invention in the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning.

The high content of NAC of the compositions together with their very high solubility results in the possibility to easy adjust the administered dose according to the therapy protocol by calculating the number of tablets (as multiple of the 2.5 g dose and/or as multiple of the 0.5 g dose) and to dissolve it into a glass of water.

The resultant solution contains the therapeutic dose of NAC, has a good taste, is very easy to administer to the patient.

The possibility to administer the effervescent compositions of the invention in a glass of water is a remarkable advantage over the commercially available NAC formulations used for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning.

The required therapeutic dose is very easy to calculate in terms of number of tablets or sachets to dissolve.

The glass of water containing a therapeutic dose of NAC has a good taste (good patient compliance also in case of children) and does not require trained nurses to be administered, as in the case of NAC vials.

The following examples better illustrate the present invention without limiting it.

EXAMPLE 1

NAC (543 g), sodium bicarbonate (348 g), maltodextrin (79.8 g), sucralose (7 g), and EDTA sodium (0.2 g) were granulated together with water in a fluid bed granulator.

The granulate was then dried until a residual moisture content of not more than 0.5%, unloaded from the fluid bed and blended with sodium benzoate (3 g) and orange flavor (19 g).

The resultant mixture was compressed into flat round tablets, 25 mm diameter, weighing 4.6 g and containing 2.5 g NAC or into flat round tablets, 14 mm diameter, weighing 0.92 g and containing 0.5 g NAC.

EXAMPLE 2

NAC (543 g), sodium bicarbonate (348.2 g), maltodextrin (79.8 g), and sucralose (7 g) were granulated together with water in a fluid bed granulator.

The granulate was then dried until a residual moisture content of not more than 0.5%, unloaded from the fluid bed and blended with sodium benzoate (3 g) and orange flavor (19 g).

The resultant mixture was compressed into flat round tablets, 25 mm diameter, weighing 4.6 g and containing 2.5 g NAC or into flat round tablets, 14 mm diameter, weighing 0.92 g and containing 0.5 g NAC.

EXAMPLE 3

NAC (543 g), sodium bicarbonate (351 g), maltodextrin (79.8 g), sucralose (7 g), and EDTA sodium (0.2 g) were granulated together with water in a fluid bed granulator.

The granulate was then dried until a residual moisture content of not more than 0.5%, unloaded from the fluid bed and blended with orange flavor (19 g).

The resultant mixture was compressed into flat round tablets, 25 mm diameter, weighing 4.6 g and containing 2.5 g NAC or into flat round tablets, 14 mm diameter, weighing 0.92 g and containing 0.5 g NAC.

EXAMPLE 4

NAC (543 g), sodium bicarbonate (351.2 g), maltodextrin (79.8 g), and sucralose (7 g), were granulated together with water in a fluid bed granulator.

The granulate was then dried until a residual moisture content of not more than 0.5%, unloaded from the fluid bed and blended with orange flavor (19 g).

The resultant mixture was compressed into flat round tablets, 25 mm diameter, weighing 4.6 g and containing 2.5 g NAC or into flat round tablets, 14 mm diameter, weighing 0.92 g and containing 0.5 g NAC.

EXAMPLE 5

NAC (543 g), sodium bicarbonate (351 g), maltodextrin (79.8 g), sucralose (7 g), and EDTA sodium (0.2 g) were granulated together with water in a fluid bed granulator.

The granulate was then dried until a residual moisture content of not more than 0.5%, unloaded from the fluid bed and blended with orange flavor (19 g).

The resultant mixture was filled into paper/aluminum sachets, 40×60 mm, weighing 4.6 g and containing 2.5 g NAC or weighing 0.92 g and containing 0.5 g NAC.

EXAMPLE 6

NAC (543 g), sodium bicarbonate (351.2 g), maltodextrin (79.8 g), and sucralose (7 g) were granulated together with water in a fluid bed granulator.

The granulate was then dried until a residual moisture content of not more than 0.5%, unloaded from the fluid bed and blended with orange flavor (19 g).

The resultant mixture was filled into paper/aluminum sachets, 40×60 mm, weighing 4.6 g and containing 2.5 g NAC or weighing 0.92 g and containing 0.5 g NAC. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating acetaminophen poisoning comprising administering an effective amount of an oral effervescent composition comprising at least 50% w/w of N-acetylcysteine, at least 20% w/w of a carbonate or bicarbonate salt, without an additional organic or inorganic acid, and from 3.5 to 15% w/w of a mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients comprising a sweetener, a flavorant, and a diluent, wherein the oral effervescent composition is in an unit dose of N-acetylcysteine selected from the group consisting of 0.5 g, 1.0 g, 1.5 g, 2.0 g and 2.5 g.
 2. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the oral effervescent composition is in an unit dose of N-acetylcysteine of 0.5 or 2.5 g.
 3. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the unit doses of 0.5 g and 2.5 g are combined to provide therapeutically effective dosages of N-acetylcysteine according to the Prescott therapy protocol, wherein the protocol is based on the body weight of a patient to be treated, starting from a loading dose followed by a maintenance dose.
 4. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the amount of N-acetylcysteine in the oral effervescent composition is from 50% to 80% w/w of the composition.
 5. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 4 wherein the amount of N-acetylcysteine in the oral effervescent composition is from 50% to 60% w/w of the composition.
 6. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 5 wherein the amount of N-acetylcysteine in the oral effervescent composition is from 54 to 55% w/w of the composition.
 7. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the amount of sweetener in the oral effervescent composition is from 0.2% to 10% w/w of the mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
 8. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 7 wherein the amount of sweetener in the oral effervescent composition is from 0.5 to 1% w/w of the mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
 9. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the amount of flavorant in the oral effervescent composition is from 1% to 3% w/w of the mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
 10. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 9 wherein the amount of flavorant in the oral effervescent composition is 2% w/w of the mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
 11. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the amount of diluent in the oral effervescent composition is from 2% to 20% w/w of the mixture of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
 12. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the the carbonate or bicarbonate salt in the oral effervescent composition is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium glycine carbonate.
 13. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the amount of carbonate or bicarbonate salt in the oral effervescent composition is from 20% to 45% w/w of the composition.
 14. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the amount of carbonate or bicarbonate salt in the oral effervescent composition is from 30% to 35% w/w of the composition.
 15. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the sweetener in the oral effervescent composition is selected from the group consisting of sugars and artificial sweeteners.
 16. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 15 wherein the sweetener is an artificial sweetener selected from the group consisting of sodium saccharin, acesulfame potassium, cyclamates, and sucralose.
 17. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 16 wherein the artificial sweetener is sucralose.
 18. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the diluent in the oral effervescent composition is selected from the group consisting of polyols, cellulose, starch and maltodextrin.
 19. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 18 wherein the diluent is maltodextrin.
 20. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 1 wherein the oral effervescent composition further comprises a lubricant.
 21. The method of treating acetaminophen poisoning according to claim 20 wherein the lubricant is sodium benzoate. 